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Amy Rodriguez Heads To Olympic Qualifying Tournament With Team USA

USC junior forward Amy Rodriguez has made yet another step toward Beijing, having been named to the U.S. Women's National Team's 20-player roster bound for the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which runs April 4-12. U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage named her team today, and the squad is now on its way to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to work toward earning a berth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The two teams that reach the CONCACAF tournament final will solidify an Olympic berth.

Rodriguez has been a key part of a successful spring with the U.S. National Team. Called up to the full squad soon after helping USC claim the 2007 NCAA Championship, Rodriguez scored her first career goals with the full U.S. team while at the Four Nations Tournament in China with a two-goal game against Canada. And at the Algarve Cup in Portugal she scored again for Team USA against Norway. Rodriguez holds 12 caps as she now heads into the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

'We are very proud of Amy's accomplishment,' USC head coach Ali Khosroshahin said. 'Since the fall, Amy has made a serious commitment to be at the top of her game and her selection is a credit to the dedication and commitment she has shown. We are proud of her and wish her nothing but goals in the qualifying tournament. We'll keep our fingers crossed that she'll be representing the USA in Beijing.'

To get to Beijing, the United States will need to reach the CONCACAF tournament final. The USA is grouped with Jamaica and Mexico, lined up against Group B's Canada, Costa Rica and Tinidad & Tobago. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on April 9, with the championship match set for April 12.

Rodriguez's 10 goals, three assists and three game-winners during USC's NCAA championship drive bumped the junior up to rank No. 6 all-time in career points (59), No. 6 in career goals (23) and No. 4 in career game-winning goals (9) at USC.